Uncategorized

Hi everyone from warm and windy Happy Camp Ontario!  Catfish Chris here with a short update.  The weather has warmed and the water temps are at season’s high.  Fishing has become a little more difficult with the warm temperatures and lack of rain.  Walleye are scattered with fish being found both shallow and deep in various types of structure.  It seems you can pick up one here and there, with no big groups hanging in any one place.  Northern have started to make a slow movement to their traditional early fall spots and the Perch have settled in the mud.

The Blueberries are starting to ripen and should be good for a little while, but these too are scattered in bunches.  The eagles have brought 2 one young ones along at White Otter Lake and the Loons are numerous each day.

Happy Campers from Michigan have been here and currently from the Toronto region.  Sheriff Tom Kern pulled in a beautiful 6 pound Walleye with his buddies John and Robbie!  Way to go guys!

Soon Happy Camp will be filled with Bear hunters hoping for a successful hunt.  We have been working very hard to make this possible.  From baiting, running errands, working on the walk in cooler, it seems like there are not enough hours in the day but it is all coming along nicely!  Early this week, Jamie and Magoo should be back at Happy Camp for a couple of weeks!

Magoo continues to be in great spirits, and in a few weeks we shall see if the surgery was successful or not.  We truly appreciate all the kind words and gift sent to Magoo, you Happy Camper’s are awesome, Thanks!

Thanks to all who have returned to Happy Camp and for those still coming in 2014, we look forward to seeing you for the Bear, Moose and Grouse Hunt, to Fish, or just to come and Catch the Good Life with Us at Happy Camp Ontario!

For those who have not experienced the wonderful Happy Camp Area, whatcha waiting for, give us a call or send us an email to reserve your spot at Happy Camp Ontario so you too can Come and Catch the Good Life with Us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Hello everyone from cool, windy but finally clear Happy Camp!  Catfish Chris here with an update.  As all readers know, I have been and continue to be extremely busy at camp as Magoo, my right hand girl, is not here.

Magoo has great spirits as reported by Jamie, but no idea if the tendons are healing or not.  The vet said it is a waiting game and time will tell if she heals or not?  Take care my right hand girl!

As far as Happy Camp, we have been blessed to have people from Indiana, Wisconsin, Toronto and Ottawa stop at camp in the past few days.  Fishing remains strong despite the weather.  I think the water temps have reached their peak in the upper 60’s.  Fish seem to not be bunched up except Perch.  Last week, Jeremy Mews from Milwaukee, Wisconsin brought in the largest Perch to date at Happy Camp, a 15 incher!  Way to go Jeremy.  Pictures soon to come.

While perch continue to be caught all over with many fish over 12 inches, walleye and pike remain hungry as well and many fish frys and grilled fish meals have become the norm at Happy Camp.  In fact, Quintain became a line chef of sorts, setting up a line of fish and potato fryers outside of cabin 2!  Way to Go Quinn!!

By the way Quinn, practice on that Moose call for next time, but isn’t the call suppose to bring them closer??

A few days ago, I was able to take a group of fishers to an area lake.  We caught lots of walleye up to 5 pounds and many Pike of all sizes.  Also, an Osprey soared above us as we fished!

Other items of interest, we have 2 Bald eagle chicks in the nest and the other night, there were 11 adult Loons on White Otter Lake, what a sight!!  In addition, Bull, Cow and Calf Moose have been sighted in the Happy Camp area, Bears, Fox and Lynx also have been seen!

Water levels are low and the berry development is poor, raspberries are fair but blueberries seem to be slim at best!  With slim, it appears he jumped the first CN train out of Hillsport.

Bear baiting is going well and they are eating us out of house and home, hope that continues so are hunters can take in the bounty!

This afternoon I was blessed to enjoy my first true Italian lunch courtesy of Mike and Beverly Carnecelli!  Mike and Bev come to us from Toronto and always provide us with many laughs and are truly good people, much like all of our Happy Campers!

We dined in the porch with walleye, sliced tomatoes, fresh bread, home made wine and some Mushrooms in a jar that Mike’s brother, Luigi, made after picking the mushrooms from the Happy Camp woods a day ago!  To listen to Mike and Luigi talk about coming to Hillsport in 1961, along with all of their tales, are simply priceless!

As we slide into our bear season, please remember that we also have fantastic fall fishing in September.  We lose the bugs, the days are warm, maybe you want to combine fishing with Grouse hunting?  It looks like a good year for Grouse, time will tell.

So if you are looking for some great fishing, lots of laughs, a hunting trip, or just peace and quiet away from the everyday grind, Whatcha waiting for, give us a call or shoot us an email, reserve your spot and Come On and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Hi Happy Camper’s.  Thanks for all the kind words for Magoo.  She had a doctor’s appointment this morning.  They removed the cast that had been broken and replaced it with a splint.  She is resting comfortably back in central Wisconsin under much bed rest from her doctor.  She will be re-evaluated in 2 weeks if no complications develop.  It is my hope that she has a speedy recovery and makes it back to Happy Camp to run like the wind on the beach during Bear Hunt 2014.

While traveling to Manitouwadge to have truck repair done from Pat, I noticed many trees in the fresh cut north of the Sonley that have snapped about 10 feet up, most likely from strong winds and nothing to support them.

Warm and windy brought rain late this afternoon, heavy storms forecasted tonight then cool, windy for a couple of days is forecasted.

Stay tuned for more updates on Happy Camp’s Beach Girl, Miss Molly Magoo and Shadow Too!  Thanks again, take care and Come on and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp!

Good Morning and Hi folks.  Catifish Chris here from Happy Camp with this update.  Fishing continues to be very good  as fish have shifted into their summer feeds.  The Mayflies are hatching almost daily and after fighting with high water levels most of the spring, the level is actually low and we could use some rain.  It has been cool in the evening’s and our bug crop is extremely healthy, with Black flies now making their first appearance of the year!

We had our first Black Bear in camp on Tuesday morning.  Around 7 a.m. a Bear showed up in the driveway looking for breakfast, but he walked away before Jamie could snap any photos of him!  Additionally, this week we have seen Moose, Fox and Pine Marten scattered here and there, our first young of the year Bear and Ruffed Grouse.  I was out bear baiting the other day and as I drove down a trail, I notices something large and white sticking up.  During the course of that day, many times I had to stop and pull trees or brush from the road. I thought, “ugh, another tree branch”.  Upon getting out of the vehicle, I walked up and no tree branch, but a wonderful Moose Shed was found!  It is slightly eaten from the critters, but still in great shape and what a find!

The Wheaton’s from Pennsylvania have found their way back home and Magoo enjoyed their companionship.  Thanks for your help in our time of need and choosing to share some of your time at Happy Camp!  Once again, is goes to show me that there are lots of good people out there and you are some of them.

As I sat in a boat with Ray and Jacob Wheaton, we could see Todd and David Wheaton in a boat nearby! David started yelling, ” I got one, Dad I got one”.  David stood up and peered into the water as Todd reached for the net.  Todd scooped up and netted the fish.  I looked at Ray and said, that’s what it is all about, experiencing the good life and all it can offer!  I think his smile meant he was in agreement?  From Eagles to Loons, Pike, Pickerel or Perch,  Bugs to Bears or Moose to Magoo, the experiences are what fuels these fingers and what will today bring for me or you, guess we are about to find out!

As I close this update, it is very quiet at Happy Camp.  Magoo and Jamie have found their way back to central Wisconsin.  Magoo will be getting the best care anywhere, at the Amherst Vet Clinic.  Until they return, I will be working hard to keep the boat afloat here at Happy Camp.

Thanks again for sharing part of your time here at Happy Camp!  We have some openings especially in September and would love to see you, so whatcha waiting for, give us a shout, reserve your spot and Come on and Catch the Good Life with Us at Happy Camp Ontario!

July 6, 2014, has brought a couple very long days along with many tears from the people here as well as the clouds above.

Yesterday began a wonderful day, stiff breezes ushered in clouds along with the Wheatons from Pennsylvania.  Magoo and I were upbeat as she played by the shore and I pumped out and cleaned boats.  Around 10:00 a.m.  I looked up from the boat and no Magoo!  What’s up with that?  I called and no Magoo!  I called again and no Magoo!  My mind started thinking the unthinkable, something must have happened to Magoo?  For those of you who know me little or much, you know my dogs are held very, very close to my heart!

Magoo came out of the brush towards the dock, and as she stepped on the dock, I saw blood dripping on each step.  As she neared me I noticed she had been gashed on one leg and cut on the other.  I jumped out of the boat and got her into the Jeep!  We sped down the trail to Happy Camp beeping the horn as I drove in the yard.  Jamie came yelling, “Be Quiet! ” I yelled,  “Magoo’s hurt, bleeding help me!”  I picked up Magoo and brought her in the porch.  Blood streamed down her legs as we frantically tried to stop the bleeding.  Magoo had been cut on her lower leg and finally, after much pushing, holding and wrapping, the bleeding stopped. Blood filled towels littered the porch!  Magoo was still and I lifted her into her crate.  She laid quietly as I watched her in her crate.  I got on the phone with our local vet and they instructed us what to do and as long as the bleeding stopped, she was ok for now.  Magoo was resting quietly but this soon changed.

Our new guests, the Wheatons pulled into the yard about 10:45 a.m. and greetings took place.  They came into the lodge, were showed their quarters and started unpacking.  I went back into the lodge porch to check on Magoo.  I noticed blood dripping on her wrapping.  I yelled to Jamie, “Come help Magoo is bleeding!”  I quickly lifted Magoo from the crate and Jamie took the bandage off.

Oh my God, the blood was pouring out of the wound, with no way of stopping it!  My Magoo was going to bleed to death right in my arms!  As we frantically tried to stop the bleeding nothing seemed to work.  The Wheatons jumped right in and Todd Wheaton helped Magoo as I tried to call 911 as there is no vet for 5-6 hours.  911 did not work, now what?

As the Wheatons helped me lift Magoo into the Jeep, I held pressure on her leg trying like crazy to stop the bleeding!  Magoo squirmed slightly, and we took off down the road to Manitouwadge for the hospital.  Flying down the gravel, bumpy, dusty road, I laid in the back of the Jeep holding onto dear life with Magoo while trying to stop the bleeding!  Towel after towel filled with blood as it ran down my hands.  I was able from time to time to get it to stop.  A Moose now jumped in front of the Jeep, and Jamie veered around it with success!

As we turned onto Wowan Road, the washboard gravel turned the Jeep sideways, but is was quickly corrected!  I felt the sense of vomit rush up from my stomach as we continued to the hospital!  This rush subsided as Magoo lifted her head and gently licked my face, telling me, “It’s going to be all right, buddy!”

Jamie whipped the Jeep into the Emergency entrance, rushed in and a young nurse, Nick, came out with a wheel chair.  He did not understand that Magoo is our dog, not a human!  Nick stepped back and initially said, “I can do nothing!!”  We begged, pled and yelled into his heart.  Nick said the doctor could not help as he is not trained on animals, but Nick himself returned with gauze, cleaner, a helper and tape.  Nick looked at the wound, says  “OH MY GOD” but worked with us on cleaning it and while we held Magoo, he wrapped the wound.  The bleeding was stopped but this had to be fixed, but by whom?  Nick could not, the doctor would not and the closest vet was still another four hours away!

In the emergency area, the staff there helped me find phone numbers and call Thunder Bay Vet Hospital.  It was nearing 1:30 p.m., and they were only open until 5.  I begged with them and they agreed to be open when we got there.  I quickly got directions, jumped into the Jeep and held Magoo while Jamie sped down the highway.  We arrived at the outskirts of Thunder Bay around 5:50 p.m. because of rainstorms and multiple construction work on bridges.

We pulled into the vet clinic around 6:10 p.m. and were greeted by a vet tech.  We got Magoo into the room and set her on the table.  A few moments later the vet came in and discussed Magoo with us.  She would sedate Magoo and then open the wrapping to see how severe it was as she did not want to have a “Blood Bath” on her hands!  Terror ran through our minds as we might lose our Magoo!

A few moments passed, and the vet came back out with her thoughts!  Magoo had severed four tendons in her lower leg and they needed to be repaired.  If she was able to find the other ends, she could hopefully re-attach them, but she would have to do surgery.  We put our faith in her and she said come back in about 45 minutes!

45 minutes passed slowly while waiting and the vet came out!  She reported that she was able to stop the bleeding as the artery was not severed.  She also re-attached all of the tendons, made a cast along with dressing and Magoo is out of the woods for now!  A brief sigh of relief came over us!  The vet did some more preparatory work in hopes to have Magoo come back to Happy Camp that night!  Many instructions were given, and fingers are crossed that no infection will set in.  Numerous follow up appointments will take place, and in 6-9 weeks she may gain full use of her leg again!

About 9:15 p.m. I lift Magoo back into the Jeep, laid her down and pet her soft head!  She was very groggy and fell fast asleep quickly.

About 12:45 a.m. Magoo whimpered in the back.  We stopped in Terrace Bay and I lifted her out of the Jeep in hopes to have her pee.  No such luck, but back in the Jeep we go and about 3:00 a.m. we rolled into Happy Camp.  As the Jeep slowed to a stop, Magoo jumped up, looked around as to say, “I’m back, let’s party!!”  I opened the back and Magoo lunged to jump out, but I caught her and set her on the ground.

Magoo whimpered through the night as I tried to catch some sleep on the couch near her.  Around 6:30 I woke, and she was up in her crate.  I carried her outside and set her on the ground.  She looked at her funny cast, then started hobbling and fell down.  I began to cry as it broke my heart to watch my little girl, who just yesterday was jumping, running, and playing like insanity, now a hobbling, falling little girl.

Magoo picked herself up and came quickly to me.  I knelt down and gave her a hug.  She buried her face in mine with eternal licks and that tail, oh my that hard wonderful tail was swaying back and forth!  Tears of joy streamed down my face as she looked at me and her face told me, “Hi Buddy, it’s me Magoo.”  She hopped on 3’s and took care of business like she never had the other leg!

Ray Wheaton came by in about 15 minutes and asked, “How is Magoo?”  I said look at her as Magoo rested on the floor.  That hammer tail banged on the floor with excitement.  Again tears streamed down my face.

Thanks to so many people in our time of need:  Thanks to Ray, Todd, Jacob and David Wheaton for your help with us, complete strangers working together like we have known each other  for years!  Thanks to Mike Rhyno, Hillsport native for answering your phone and helping communicate during the day!  Thanks to Nick at the human hospital in Manitouwadge, without your help Magoo probably would not be here today!  Thanks to the Thunder Bay Vet Hospital for their professional, outgoing help with Magoo!  Lastly but certainly not least, Thanks to Shadow, Magoo’s big Brother who is looking down on Magoo from above, with your guidance, faith and goodness watching over all of us we were able to figure it out, work together and make a terrible situation much better.  And to Magoo, thanks girl for trusting us and allowing us into your life. You are truly one special girl!

So folks, that is just today’s bit about the Tears that have come to Happy Camp in the past two days.  Late tonight when I go to sleep, there will be no finer sound than listening to Magoo’s deep breaths as she rests comfortably and hopefully with each breath she is closer to a full recovery!  So as the rain stops, whatcha waiting for, Come On and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Good Morning from cool, crisp and sunsplashed Happy Camp!  July 3rd and we have FIRST’s at HC!

Last night while pulling in fish hand over fist, Jamie, Magoo and Catfish Chris were greeted by the following:

The First Hexagena’s of the year, biggest Mayflies of the year!!

The First Blue Wing Teal

The First Trio of our local movie stars!  3 Jimmy Durante’s zoomed through the Bay.  For those of you who do not know, Jimmy is the hunter’s term for the Northern Shoveler.  Those little devils sure are pretty!!

Magoo and Catfish are off to find some lumber today and hopefully they will be successful!  Time will tell, the sky is beautiful so Come on and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Good Morning, Catfish Chris here with your weekly update from warm, sultry and windy Happy Camp Ontario!  Today is June 29th, and my are we feeling the summer!!  The weather has been warm to hot reaching the upper 80’s yesterday with high humidity!  Thank God for the breeze that carried with us through the night, and today is a warm, windy and mostly cloudy day.  Strong storms off to our west and south should bring us some relief later.  Along with our recent heat spell has come a fresh crop of bugs, mosquitos, black flies and now sand flies have made their first appearance of the year!

Along with the fresh crop of bugs, people from Toronto, Ottawa, Lindsey, Longlac, Michigan, WIsconsin and beyond have made their way to Happy Camp in the last few days!

From the Youngs to Frosticks, Breske, Fischer, Nemke, Stoltz, Blareks & Buddy, Ivan and more, this week’s roster has once again brought us smiling, Happy Faces to Happy Camp.  All of these met the awesome wilderness that has come to be the norm at Happy Camp.  Mother Nature in all her glory did not disappoint.

One afternoon, Shirley, Shelley and I went for a ride and while scanning a local river for moose, we first were disappointed there were none in the water.  We stopped looking, turned our attention to the road to drive and there she was, a young calf moose standing about 30 yards in front of us in the middle of the road!  Jim and I also spotted a moose swimming in some water, but gave her privacy as she was down to her skivvies!  My, you should have seen the towel she had hanging on a tree to dry herself, as big as a tent!  Also, a wolf made its way near Echo Lake and Sam the Skunk has been vigorously chowing down the fresh fish entrails in and around the dump!

Fishing has been good to excellent for the 3 P’s.  In fact, Magoo and I even got the opportunity to wade the shore the other night with a topwater bait and while we only caught a couple, there were numerous others that splashed, gurgled and popped at the Jitterbug!  So you see, it’s not all about catching, it’s about the total package, or rather whole picture!

Check out our new 2014 photo page started by Jamie.  We have at least one, maybe 2 moose near the shores of White Otter Lake.  Additionally, local celebrity  Camille Hache found his way to camp, check him out with Buddy!

While we look forward to the next smiling faces to come down the drive, we can’t help but pause for a moment and say thank you to all who make Happy Camp what it is today!  To watch Henry and Bonnie sit and prep their boat to fish and make sure every detail is complete, help them dump their boat in the lake and see their Buddy smile and bark with excitement as the motor fires and purrs is simply priceless.  To chat with all of our customers each night, over morning coffee, work on puzzles, dinner, the ball game or  fish cleaning, it is you and the memories that live in all of us for eternity that makes it special.  Furthermore, to have you choose to spend some of your precious time at Happy Camp makes Magoo, Jamie and I smile from ear to ear!  Thank you for making so many wonderful memories!  One can only wonder, what will today or the next day bring?

So if you are a potential first timer, or someone thinking of returning to Happy Camp, whatcha waiting for, give us a shout and reserve your spot today.  Come On and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Good Morning and Happy Summer Happy Campers!  Summer has begun and the fishing is starting to heat up.  Most fish are still relating to shallow structure and where there is adjacent green weeds!  Numerous Pike, Perch and Walleye have been found in bunches, so where you find one, stick around, work the area and you should find bunches!!

Late last night, the smell of fresh fish frying, the taste of your favourite beverage, and the sound of Ontario’s National Bird, the Mosquito, all were found at Happy Camp!  Does life get any better than this???

The bugs are fierce so bring your best arsenal when trying to fight them off!  Brown Drake and small Sulphur Duns have started to emerge almost daily and the fish come up in the water column for them as well.  The water is full of insects, tadpoles and minnows, in fact we spotted a Stick Water Bug near the shore.  If you ever see one, WOW you will back away real quick.  They  have a spear like snout and actually attack with that thing!

Ducks of variety as well as Loons and Eagles have made their way to their summer homes near Happy Camp, and I have my fingers crossed that we shall be able to go and see if the Rookery is alive and well in the next few days!

For our hunters, we have acquired a walk in cooler and Camille Hache, a Hillsport friend, got it fired up, stopped at Camp early this morning, took me and showed me that it is a crisp 33 degrees, perfect for Bear and Moose later this year!!!

Beautiful weather continues to bless Happy Camp, partly to mostly sunny with light winds and highs in the upper 70’s, today looks like another sun-splashed beauty.

Happy Campers from Michigan have showed up and enjoying all that the wilderness has to offer.  Soon the water and woods will be alive with Happy Campers from numerous spots in the states.  We do have a few spots open, so shoot us an e-mail or give us a call for you to Come and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!

Hello everyone from sunny, windy and NOT raining Happy Camp!  While many of the area creeks  are still over their banks and muddy, White Otter Lake is receding nicely.

The dock will be by this weekend and the first Brown Drakes are hatching as I write!  The Mosquitos and Black Flies are coming along nicely and biting quite well too!

Guests coming in need to take caution as there are numerous logging trucks along the gravel each day!  Wowun and Fry are in good shape, but please take caution when coming up the Hillsport road as it is quite messy with numerous ruts and rocks in the road!

We can have minnows for Happy Camp customers this year, we have completed the needed paperwork!  Please call well in advance for the local trappers to catch your minnows should you desire them!

Right now it looks like a great blueberry crop with lots of rain and now some heat, time will tell what transpires!

We all at Happy Camp are eager to get fishing and see those smiling Happy Camp customers soon, so if you do not have your spot reserved, whatcha waiting for, give us a call and reserve your spot and Come and Catch the Good Life with us at Happy Camp Ontario!!

Hi Folks, up, up and away with the 2014 season!  I spent the last few days at Happy Camp and while the water was receding, heavy rain came yesterday and now the lake is back into the woods!  The late spring and heavy rains have not let the water recede to where we can get the dock in!  I hope and pray that within 10 days the water will drop and we can get out fishing.  The beach is not quite waist deep and many minnows and young pike were swimming in the woods along the road!  Loons and eagle have made it back to camp as well as our other friends, the bugs!!

The count is on, I have seen 4 Bear, 3 big and one cub, 3 Moose, and numerous bunnies!  The heavily rutted gravel roads into camp were very good when I left camp this morning!  Thanks Rooster for grading the road!

We look forward to getting on the water as well as seeing you all really soon!  Take care, drive safe and keep in touch!